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Thanks
to the late Scott Hudgens
for his generosity and patriotism
By
U.S. Sen. Max Cleland
Specially written for GwinnettForum.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 27, 2001 -- Scott Hudgens was a dear friend
to me before he passed away last year. Because of his generosity
and patriotism, he will be a friend to Georgia's military and veteran
communities for decades to come.
They say once you're in the Army, you're always in the Army, and
it's true. It has been over 30 years since I wore the uniform of
the United States, but in many ways I feel like I never left the
Army. I think that Scott Hudgens felt that way about his own service.
Landing on the beaches of Normandy and fighting in World War II
made Scott the man he became. Even after his uniform was packed
away, he always had the heart of a soldier and a commitment to serve
our country in any way he could.
In July of last year, Scott stepped forward and demonstrated that
commitment yet again when he donated 770 acres of his own property
in Cherokee County to the U.S. Veterans Administration for a new
national veterans cemetery.
For the hundreds of thousands of veterans in North Georgia who once
served in the military and have never stopped serving their country,
Scott is making it possible for them to be buried in a place of
honor alongside others who answered the call. Although there are
400,000 veterans living in North Georgia, there has not been a space
in a national cemetery here for over 20 years. Scott was aware of
this situation, and wanted to do something to change it.
He and I went fishing together about two years ago on some property
that he owned in north of Atlanta. It was a beautiful day, and he
said that he loved the land there because it reminded him of the
land in Normandy, which he always found peaceful and serene. He
told me then what he wanted to do with that land.
After Scott made his intentions public, an "army" of people
came together to make the proposal a reality. I introduced a bill
in the Senate with my colleague Senator Paul Coverdell to get approval
for the VA to establish a cemetery on the land. Bob Barr and other
members of the Georgia delegation did the same in the House of Representatives.
The Veterans Administration worked with the Army Corps of Engineers
to do the studies and analysis necessary, while the Cherokee County
commission worked to ensure local support for it. Finally, we had
the excellent news earlier last year that the President's budget
had fully funded Phase One of the construction.
The land itself is a beautiful, rolling expanse which will be a
place of honor for men and women who served our nation. Furthermore,
because of its location, it will also have a positive impact on
the Chattanooga National Cemetery, which will now be able to stay
open beyond its current estimated closure date of 2015.
Just before his retirement, General Douglas MacArthur said that
old soldiers never die, they just fade away. But even in his death,
the legacy of Scott's generosity and patriotism will not fade away.
I wish I could thank Scott in person for his incredible gift to
his fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. But as Scott would
tell you, making his dream a reality may just be thanks enough for
a man who was as humble as he was generous.
Thank you, my friend, from all of us.
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